The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ryan Sayers Tennessee's Shannon Bobbitt holds the national championship trophy with teammates after the win.

TAMPA, Fla. - It was a stifling Tennessee defense that ended up shutting down one of the NCAA Tournament's hottest teams to win its second championship in a row.

The Lady Volunteer defense forced Stanford to commit 25 turnovers en route to a 64-48 victory, netting Tennesse its eighth title since 1987. It seemed easy for the Lady Volunteers against the Cardinal, who in their first championship game since 1992, came as winners of 23 consecutive games.

"They came out with a great mentality to play hard, especially on the defensive end," said Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt. "On offense we got more people involved, but it was our defense that got it done."

Candace Parker had a game-high 17 points on her way to being named the tournament's most outstanding player for the second straight year. The Lady Volunteers also landed two other players, Shannon Bobbitt and Nikki Anosike, on the All-Tournament team.

"It's really hard to put into words. It's just so exciting," said Alexis Hornbuckle, who was one of five Volunteer players to play their last collegiate game Tuesday. "Every senior in the nation wants to go out on top and the seniors here at Tennessee, we did that. And not only was it the second one, but this one meant a lot more being a senior."

Bobbitt got things going with two 3s within a 49-second span to give the Lady Vols momentum early in the first half. She ended the game with 13 points, including going 3-for-8 from 3-point range.

"I try to hide in the corner so the opponent can't see me," Bobbitt said. "I just master the shot and have been good at it ever since."

Stanford's Candice Wiggins, who also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team alongside LSU's Sylvia Fowles, didn't have another stellar game like she had against UConn, scoring 14 points and only pulling down four rebounds.

She could barely get anything done against a tough Tennessee frontcourt, as Anosike, Parker and Alberta Auguste combined for 36 points and 24 rebounds.

"We knew they were going to be pressuring us and that's their style of play," said Wiggins, who was very emotional at the post-game press conference. "They really rely on their defense to get them going. And they're big. They're in passing lanes. So you can't have any sloppy passes."

Continued...

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